Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital and largest city of Georgia, with a population of approximately 1.09 million (2026 estimate). Situated on the Kura River in the South Caucasus, Tbilisi has been Georgia's political and economic centre for over 1,500 years. The city's historic Old Town, Soviet-era architecture, and rapidly developing tech and hospitality sectors have made it one of the most discussed digital nomad destinations in the world since 2020. Georgia's visa-free entry for over 95 nationalities — valid for up to one year with no income requirement or bureaucratic registration — was the structural driver of Tbilisi's nomad boom. Rents in popular neighbourhoods have risen 20-30% since 2023 as a result.

The policy environment shifted materially in early 2026. Labour migration law amendments that took effect 1 March 2026 gave Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs authority to conduct unannounced inspections of foreign nationals' homes and workplaces. A separate clause imposes deportation and a three-year entry ban on foreign nationals who participate in protests. These powers apply to the estimated 7,200 remote workers in Tbilisi even though the law's formal scope excludes those employed by foreign companies. The chilling effect on Tbilisi's foreign resident community has been widely documented by civil society and covered by OC Media.

Tbilisi's attraction for nomads rests on three pillars that the 2026 policy shift partially undermines: low cost of living (USD 800-1,200/month comfortable), strong fibre internet (100-200 Mbps standard), and a historically welcoming attitude to foreign residents. The Georgian Dream government's authoritarian drift — including the foreign agents law modelled on Russian legislation and the suspension of EU accession talks — has prompted some nomads to reconsider Tbilisi as a base.